Carpet-stretcher.



m. 75,396. Patented Dec. 9, 1902-.

r. LENZNEB.

' CARPET STRETCHER.

m umiun filed June so, 1902.

(No Model.)

Wit eaaea UNKTED S'mrns 'nFIcE.

FRANKLIN LENZNER, OF CASS CITY, MICHIGAN.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,396, dated December 9, 1902. Application filed June 30, 1902. Serial No. 113,735. (No model.)

To all whom it rncty concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN LENZNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cass City, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (JarpetStretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in carpet-stretchers.

The object of the invention is to producea device of this character which is simple and strong in construction and inexpensive of manufacture and one which may be quickly and easily adjusted to the various lengths required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stretcher which will automatically lock itself in its stretched position to enable the operator to tack or secure the carpet in such stretched condition; and a still further object is to produce a device which may be folded compactly and made conveniently portable.

With these and other objects, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved carpet-stretcher, showing it engaged with the carpet before it hasbeen stretched. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the stretcher with its hinge-joint locked. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the hinge-joint closed, and Fig. 4 is a section through the same.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a casting which forms one of the heads of the stretcher and which is provided with a series of teeth 2 along its outer edge to engage the carpet.

3 denotes one of the toggle bars or sections, which has the head 1 secured to one end and its other end hinged at 4 to the other toggle bar or section 5.

6 denotes an extensible bar or section adapted to slide upon the bar 5. A metal strap or band 7, secured to one end of the bar 6, encompasses and slides on the bar 5, and a metal bail or loop 8, secured to one end of the bar 5 in the guide-brackets 9, surrounds the bar 6 and is adapted to lock the same to the bar 5 in any desired position by means of the camlever 10, drawing upon the bail. The outer end of the bar or section 6 is also provided with a head 11, similar to the head 1. If desired, the bar 6 may be lengthened by bolting an additional bar to it and securing the head 11 to the end of this additional bar.

The hinge or toggle connection 4: between the bars 3 and 5, by means of which the carpet is stretched, consists in forming an oifset or projection12 on the under side of the bar 5 and securing to each side of the same by means of rivets the hinge members or plates 13. Similar hinge members or plates 14 are secured on each side of the end of bar 3, and the said hinge-plates 13 and 14 are secured together by the pintle 15, which also passes through the offset 12. In order to lock the hinge when the bars 3 and 5 are extended or opened, I provide notches or recesses 16 in the upper edges of each of the plates 13 and 14, which when the hinge is closed aline or register with each other to allow a cross-pin 17, carried by the spring 18, to drop into them and lock the said plates, as will be readily understood by referring to Fig. 3. The said spring 18 extends down between the ends of the bars 3 and 5 and the plates 13 and 14 and has its end secured in a seat 19, formed on the under side of the bar 3. The downward movement of the spring may be limited by the pin 17 It will be noticed that when the hinge is locked and the bottom of the stretcher resting upon the carpet, the offset 12 holds the inner end of the bar 3 sufficiently above the carpet to allow the fingers of the hand to be inserted below the bar 3 and the spring 18 raised to disengage the pin 17 from thenotches 16 in order to unlock the hinge.

The operation of the device is as follows: The head 11 is engaged with the carpet or placed against the wall, the toggle-bar 5 and the extensible bar 6 adjusted to the desired length and looked together by the cam 10, the hinge-joint 4: opened to the desired degree, and the head 1 is then engaged with the carpet. When the parts are in this position, by pressing down upon the toggle-bars 3 and 5 near the joint 4: the heads 1 and 11 will be forced apart, the carpet stretched,

and the hinge closed until the notches 16 in the plates 13 and 14 register, when the pin 17 will spring into them and lock the hinge, and hence hold the carpet in its stretched condition. Bysimplyinsertingthefingersbeneath the bar 3 and pressing the spring 18 upwardly the pin will be raised from engagement with the notches 16 and the stretcher may be easily removed. I

When the stretcher is not in use, it may be folded very compactly by folding the bar 3 upon the bar 5 and sliding the bar 6 up upon the bar 5.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention Without de parting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A carpet-stretcher comprising two togglebars, heads secured to the outer ends of said toggle-bars and a hinge connection between said toggle-bars comprising pivoted hinge plates or members secured to the ends of said toggle-bars and provided with notches adapted to register a spring-actuated locking-pin carried by one of said toggle-bars and adapted to engage the registering notches, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN LENZNER. Witnesses:

H. L. PINNEY, O. G. MATZEN. 

